by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:00 AM ET, Wed February 25, 2026
The Los Cabos Tourism Board issued an official statement following the recent bout of gang violence in Puerto Vallarta and other towns and cities across Western Mexico, telling travelers, advisors and others that the region wasn’t impacted by the recent violence, but remains safe and able to access.
According to the tourism board, the Los Cabos International Airport remains fully operational, and there were no disruptions to hotel operations, visitor services or ground transport.
Los Cabos and Baja California Sur, the state in which Los Cabos is located, was not part of the U.S. Embassy in Mexico’s shelter-in-place alerts. The region remains listed as a Level 2 security risk according to the U.S. State Department.
“Los Cabos operates under a permanent, coordinated security framework maintained by municipal, state, and federal authorities in active partnership with the hotel sector and key tourism industry organizations,” said the statement. “This year-round operational structure is designed to proactively and consistently protect residents and visitors.”
The statement was clear to mention that Baja California Sur is located across the Sea of Cortez from the impacted regions, a natural barrier that understandably protected the state from being impacted when Jalisco and the other impacted states of Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León, experienced the most violence.
While the news is still fresh and concerning for travelers this week, the U.S. Embassy cleared the shelter-in-place order on Tuesday, February 24, telling travelers to remain cautious but that airports in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara are once again operational, and roads that had been blocked due to cars that had been torched during the violence were being cleared. U.S. airlines have also returned to normal flight schedules at both city airports.
The situation began this past weekend, when a Mexican military operation killed the cartel leader El Mencho. The gang he controlled rose up in retaliation, torching cars and businesses across parts of Mexico.
Some even occurred as far away as the Mexican Caribbean, though the major incidents happened near Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Quintana Roo saw some incidents, but by February 23, the violence had ended, and a large police and military presence was protecting the region.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
